Defence firms are hit by Bahrain ban

Some of Britain's biggest defence firms are bracing themselves for a
financial hit as the Government prepares to revoke arms exports licences
to Bahrain.

The fierce military crackdown unleashed against protesters in the Gulf kingdom has prompted the Foreign Office to urgently review its licences which could affect firms such as BAE Systems, Cobham and Rolls-Royce.

In the first quarter of 2010 the Government issued 17 licences to UK firms worth £2.1million and 25 licences with a value of £3.1million in the second quarter.

BAE Systems: A spokesperson said the company has not supplied any riot control equipment to Bahrain

This included sub-machine guns, rifles and shotguns, as well as tear gas and irritant ammunition.

Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt confirmed that hundreds of
cartridges of tear gas and other riot control equipment have been
licensed for export to Bahrain over the past nine months.